Petition IVF: Encouraging uptake of guidelines

The organisation Fertility Fairness recently conducted a survey that found widespread variation in the availability and provision of IVF across the country. Over 80% of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) do not provide the nationally recommended number of 3 IVF cycles. At least 45% do not use the nationally recommended definition of a cycle of IVF, instead using local definitions to cut costs. Additionally a variety of restrictive access criteria are also used that appear to have no clinical justification.

We would like to request that the Department of Health:

1. Discusses with NHS England how to ensure full implementation of the NICE Guideline for 3 cycles of IVF.
2. Discusses with NHS England and NICE how to ensure CCGs standardise the definition of a full cycle of IVF.
3. Discusses with NHS England the enforcement of standardised eligibility criteria, in line with the policy in the devolved nations.